From the street, the goings-on at the corner of Irwin and Boulevard in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward on Friday afternoon appeared to be nothing more than a typical summertime festival for kids.

In a field next to John Hope Elementary School, children frolicked on inflatable slides, negotiated a makeshift obstacle course and had their faces painted in between sampling hot dogs and snow cones offered from tents.

The Georgia Justice Project's Back-2-School 2008 festival, which continues today, had much more mission than that, however. Hope Elementary students, as well children of the Justice Project's clients, would not only get a safe and fun day out, they would receive a backpack filled with school supplies and a free pair of sneakers, all of which were privately donated.

The goal is to help children in the community, many of whom are economically disadvantaged, hunker down academically so that they will have a better chance to succeed in adult life.

The event also is a way to familiarize residents in the neighborhood with the Justice Project, the 22-year-old Atlanta nonprofit that helps select individuals get out of the criminal justice system and then develop productive lives in the outside world.

Besides providing free legal representation for its clients, the group offers jobs through a landscaping business.

And, as part of its holistic approach, attorneys and staff keep in personal contact with clients long afterward to make sure they stay out of legal trouble, and on the right path.

The Justice Project, which is a block away from Hope, held a similar event last year, but it was open only to families of its clients.

"This is the first time we've done something outside of our walls," said Douglas Ammar, the group's executive director.

"It's an evolution of our engagement with the broader community. We thought, why not reach out to the community that surrounds us."

Because this year's Back-2-School is open to Hope families, too, some 500 children are expected to take part.

David Foster was there Friday with his 6-year-old daughter, a new student at Hope this fall. Not a client, he knew little about the Justice Project, he admitted, but welcomed the free backpack, supplies and shoes.

"That really caught my eye," he said as he stood at a tent where children were getting balloons inflated. "It's hard for me, as a single parent, and you appreciate the help. This is a blessing."